Tool handle attachment



March 1954 P. w. SANDROCK ET AL 2,672,066 TOOL HANDLE ATTACHMENT FiledAug. 18, 1951 VIA-11% 'fdFaE c 76422 3 BY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 TOOLHANDLE ATTACHMENT Paul W. Sandrock and George C. Fratz, Kipton,

Ohio, assignors toKipton Industries, Inc., Kipton, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application August 18, 1951, Serial No. 242,543

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool handle attachment with the aid of whichincreased manipulative force may safely be applied to a tool handle byan auxiliary device of conventional construction. a Heretofore, screwdriver handles have been available incorporating cylindrical insertsdesigned to receive a square shank of a conventional ratchet head. Aninsert of this kind is described in copending application Serial No.

153,194, filed March 31, 1950, now Patent Number 2,620,001, for ToolHandle. It consists of a sleeve-like element having therein one or moreinteriorly located segmental shoulders acting as self-contained detentmeans for coaction with the ball detent incorporated in the shank of theratchet head. 1 With such inserts can of course be used any other typeof auxiliary 'devicethat has a square shank of proper size, particularlyif it is equipped with asuitably located ball detent.

However, unless an auxiliary device so equipped happens to be at hand,the user is unable to take full'advantage of the factthat the tool isadapted for use in conjunction with a device for applying increasedmanipulative force to the tool handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachmentfitting into inserts of the type'de'scribed with the aidoi whichincreased manipulative-force may be applied to the tool handle by astandard socket wrench, a Stillson wrench,=a pair of pliers, or anysimilar auxiliary device that lacks the square shank of the conventionalratchet head, all without necessitating the application of suchauxiliary device to the tool handle itself. It is a further object of.the invention to provide an attachment of the type described that willnot project laterally beyond the tool handle itself to interfere withthe means usually provided for limiting or preventing rolling of thetool when in contact with a'fiat surface. It is'a further object of theinvention to provide atool handle attachment of. built-up constructionthat is susceptible ofbeing as-' sernbled with ease from parts that canbe turned lows and from the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a full-scale side elevation of a screw driver with thetool handle attachment of n the present invention applied to it, thesocket wrench shownin dotted lines being representative of the type ofauxiliary device that'may be used withsuch'attachment; Figure 2 .isaside elevation of the tool handle attachment shown in Figure 1, thesame being shown as'it appears when removed from the tool handle withwhich it is used; Figure 3 is a vertical central section of such toolhandle attachment; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the toolhandle attachment before they are assembled, the various parts beingshown in section; Figure 5 is a plan of one of the spacer washers usedin the tool handle attachment; Figure 6 is a plan of one of the grippingwashers; Figure '7 is a top plan of the shank to which the gripping andspacer washers are applied; Figure 8 is a bottom plan of the same shank;Figure 9 is a top plan of the assembled tool handle attachment; andFigure 10 is a bottom plan of the assembled tool handle attachment.Figures 2 to 10, inclusive, are all on a somewhat enlarged scale ascompared with that of Figure 1.

As is apparent from Figure 1, tool handle at-.- tachment A fits into theend of tool handle B. The latter is recessed to permit it to take ametal insert of the kind shown, described and claimed in applicationSerial No. 153,194, new Patent Number 2,620,001. Such an insert has asquare opening terminating in a plurality of transversely extendingsegmental shoulders that hold tool handle attachment A in position byengaging the ball detent with which the tool handle attachment isequipped. A socket wrench C is shown in dotted lines, such socket wrenchbeing representative of a variety of auxiliary devices that can be usedwith the tool handle attachmentof the invention.

Tool'handle attachment A is shown to better advantage in Figures 2 and3. Built up of metal components, it includes a shank I which iscoextensive in length with the attachment itself. Such shank is madefrom square bar stock, preferably /5 inch by inch in cross section, thisin order that it may be used wherever one may use a ratchet headprovided with a shank oflike dimensions. As indicated in Figure 4, shankI has a block-like portion 2 adapted for entry into the recess in thetool handle insert, such block-like portion being equipped with aspring-pressed ball detent 3.

Surmounting block 2 and integral with it is a more or less polygonalstud 4. The generally polygonal shape of stud 4 may be imparted to it inan automatic screw machine by rounding corners 5 of shank I above theupper limits of block 2. By giving stud A a rounded contour, which isaccomplished as stated byv rounding off corners '5, transverselyextending shoulders 1i are formed in the plane wherein stud 4 meetsblocl: 2. Shoulders B may therefore be considered as dividing shank Iinto two parts, one on one side of shoulders E5 having thecharacteristics of a block and the other, on the opposite side, havingthe characteristics of a stud. The axial length of stud 4 may be lessthan, equal to, or greater than that of block 2, as may be desired in agiven case.

To stud i may then be applied one or more gripping washers H, the samebeing preferably formed by a stamping operation .from inch metal stock.The number of gripping washers II is dependent on the thickness of thestock and the needs of the situation, but in cases wherein {a inch stockis used three such washers, superimposed one upon another, may beconveniently employed. Each washer has a central opening E2 (Figure 6)corresponding generally to but slightly larger than the transverse crosssection of :stud i on shank 1. Opening l2 may conveniently take the formof an octagon as shown, hut the precise shape is unimportant so long asthere is no mutual interference, as at the corners, between washers iiand stud it.

As further shown in Figure 6, each gripping washer ii is provided at itsperiphery with a plurality of gripping portions. Preferably, but notnecessarily, such gripping portions take the form of triangularserratons [3 of suitable size, shape and number. Where two or moreserrated gripping washers are mounted on stud t, the serrations arepreferably aligned to form longitudinally extending grooves in the edgesof the gripping Washer assembly. if (as may be desired) no spacerwashers are used therewith, the first gripping washer H to be applied tostud i will come to rest against shoulders 6; subsequently appliedgripping Washers will be supported by it, the last of them atapproximately the level, but usually very slightly below the level, ofthe extreme upper end of stud 4. For some purposes it is sufficient ifall of the washers take the form of gripping washers, but it ispracticable and sometimes desirable to flank the gripping wash-er orwashers H by spacer washers, such spacer washers, designated i l, beingshown in Figure '5.

Each spacer washer id is preferably of V inch -etal stock. tral openingit and a smooth (non-serrated) circular periphery it. The openingin-spacer Washer H5 is similar in size and shape to opening l2 ingripping washer H, having, like the latter, a more or less polygonalshape. ers M, where used, need not necessarily fit so closely to stud 4as do gripping washers H, which are to carry the stresses; consequently,the openings in spacer washers i i may be slightly larger than theopenings in gripping washers H. In the preferred form of the inventionshown in Figures 2 and 3, two spacer washers are employed, the first,designated i a, being in contact with shoulders t and the second inproximity to the end of stud t. In the construction shown, the height ofthe washer stack is just short of the length of stud :i; this so as toleave at the upper end of stud (l a projecting portion 1?! which may beheaded over to hold the washer stack to shank In one entirelypracticable form of the invention, the various washers are held to shankl in the manner above described by heading over the end of the shank Iinto contact with the washer farthest from the shoulders separatingblock 2 It is provided as shown with a cen- Spacer washi iii) from stud4; however, other forms which the invention can take may, if desired,employ a me tallic bond, such as that formed by silver solder or someother suitable material of a similar nature.

If silver solder or the like is used to hold the parts together, thesolder is introduced, together with the flux, at or near the surfaces tobe bonded together, after which the solder is heated to a temperaturesufficient to cause it to melt and flow into the interstices between theparts. In a closely related form of the invention, shank l. grippingwashers H and spacer washers I ia and lit are coated with copper, whichmay be deposited on them in conventional fashion from a solution of aninorganic copper salt, then assembled together without the use orapplication of any flux, and then brazed together by exposing theassembly as a whole to elevated temperatures in a reducing atmosphere.In the preferred form of the invention, the parts are first coppercoa-ted as above described, then brought togather, then formed into aunitary assembly by heading over (staking) the of shank l, and finallyhydrogen-brazed to introduce a metallic bend. Other methods of unitingthe washers to the shank are available, som making use of metallic bondsand others making use of mechanical means for holding the partstogether. The result of the foregoing operations is to provide abuilt-up tool handle attachment which, being unitary, operates as if itwere integrally formed, by casting or by machining it from a somewhatlarger Work piece. However, as compared with cast or machined toolhandle attach m'en'ts, it has the advantage that a minor crack in theshank presents no especial problem, this for the reason that the greaterpart of the load is carried by the washers; By-c-ontrast, in a cast ormachined tool handle attachment, a minor crack in the stock tends tospread to the portion in which the serrations are formed, resulting inbreakage in this portion. The advantages so provided by a built-up toolhandle attachment are important from a practical standpoint.

The materials of which the parts are formed may vary widely but can beof a. suitable ferrous alloy such as mild steel. A non-ferrous alloy, ofwhich beryllium-copper is an example, may be used instead. If desired,the parts of the assembly and even the assembly itself may be chromiumplated; however, the use of a rust-resistant steel such as StainlessSteel 1843 is preferred, if there is a possibility of rusting, in-viewof the nature of the stresses to which the attachment is subjected inuse. If the parts are copper-coated and hydrogombraaed as abovedescribed, the hydrogen-brazing step will itself give a bright,attractive finish to the metal.

The make-up, dimensions and proportions of the tool handle attachmentmay be varied within wide limits. In a typical case, using a shank ofbar stock measuring inch by /8 inch, three gripping washers of h inchstock, and two spacer washers of inch stock, a suitable tool handleattachment may be made from a shank measuring approximately 28 mm. inlength before heading over. such case, block 2 would measure about 19mm. or perhaps slightly more than 10 mm. 'in'length. Stud 4 beforeheading over would measure from 1'2 to 13 mm. in length. Grippingwashers "H would measure in diameter about 25 mm. overall and, from thebase of one serration to the lease of the nearest serration on theopposite side, about 23 mm, in which case each serration would havealtitude of about 1 mm. Twentyfour serrations may advantageously beused, although a greater or lesser number may be used if desired. Spacerwashers I4 may conveniently have a diameter of about mm, although theymay be greater or less so long as they do not interfere with thefunction of the serrations on gripping washers I I. Using a tool handleof typical size; e. g., 28 mm., the tool handle attachment will notordinarily come into contact with or roll on a flat surface on which thetool handle may be placed.

Obviously, changes within the scope of the invention may be made bythose skilled in the art, such changes going, for example, to the shape,proportion and materials used in block 2, stud 4, gripping washers H andspacer washers M. The assembled tool handle attachment may be applied toa tool handle of any kind that is equipped with an insert of the kindshown in Figure 1, whether the tool carried by the tool handle be ascrew driver, awl, auger bit, or the like. The auxiliary device forapplying power to the tool handle attachment and transmitting it bymeans of the tool handle attachment to the tool handle itself mayconveniently take the form of a socket wrench, although various otherconventional auxiliary devices may be used instead. The tool handleattachment may be incorporated bodily in a ratchet head, although insuch case there is a sacrifice of the flexibility of use that followsfrom the fact that with the tool handle attachment as shown anddescribed may be used, interchangeably, such tools as socket wrenches,Stillson wrenches, pliers and other common tools that are everywhereavailable.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in theappended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A built-up knob for a tool handle or the like comprising a pluralityof similarly shaped stamped metal washers each of which has a polygonalopening therein and at least one of which has a series of serrations inits periphery, said washers being held together to enable them to act asa unit when an auxiliary device is applied to them; a piece of metal barstock of a corresponding polygonal cross section passing through thepolygonal openings in the washers and extending for a substantialdistance beyond the washers on one side but not on the other sidethereof, said piece of bar stock being divided by an intermediateshoulder into a projecting block-like part provided with a ball detentfor coaction with the tool handle and a stud-like part of lessercrosssectional area for mounting the washers; fastening means locatingthe washers in place on the piece of bar stock; and a metallic bonduniting the washers and the piece of bar stock into a unitary structureto which force may be applied by the auxiliary device and by which theforce so applied may be transmitted to the tool handle.

2. A built-up knob for a tool handle or the like comprising a pluralityof similarly shaped stamped metal washers each of which has a polygonalopening therein and at least one of which has a series of serrations inits periphery, said washers being held together to enable them to act asa unit when an auxiliary device is applied to them; a piece of metal barstock of a corresponding polygonal cross section passing through thepolygonal openings in the washers and extending for a substantialdistance beyond the washers on one side but not on the other sidethereof, said piece of bar stock being divided by an intermediateshoulder into a projecting blocklike part provided with a ball detentfor coaction with the tool handle and a stud-like part of lessercross-sectional area for mounting the washers; and fastening meansholding the washers in place on the stud-like part of the piece of barstock, said fastening means taking the form of a portion of the piece ofbar stock headed over into contact with that one of the washers that isfarthest removed from the shoulder intermediate the ends of the piece ofbar stock.

3. A method of making a tool handle attachment comprising the steps offorming an intermediate shoulder in a piece of bar stock by rounding offthe corners of the piece while leaving the sides substantially intactfor a substantial part, but less than all, of its length; mounting aseries of washers on the rounded off part of the piece; locating thewashers in place in the stretch between the shoulder and the end of thepiece by fastening together the end of the piece and the washer nearestthe end of the piece and bonding the washers to the piece to form aunitary structure.

PAUL W. SANDROCK.

GEORGE C. FRATZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date D. 45,165 Warren Jan. 13, 1914 1,028,675 Van Sickle et al.June 4, 1912 1,381,900 Barnes June 21, 1921 1,888,793 Erickson Nov. 22,1932 1, 4,1 Taylor Apr. 18, 1933

